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how do I implement a hit counter using asp.net?

to make something homemade, you have a few options...

you could use a textfile to store your hit #'s...

or if you want to store more advanced information (like referer urls or anything like that) you may want to consider an XML file or Database...

But for a simple numeric count, it would be easy enough to just have a text file, every time the page loads, open the file, write the new number in the file, and then somewhere else on the page, display the new number..

that is the basic idea

actually, even for a basic hit counter, i myself would go overboard and use an xml file... here's how i'd do it:

Create New Dataset

Fill DataSet with The hit counter XML File

Change the Number in the Dataset to the new #

Save the xml file from the Dataset


it's actually quite simple to do in code :)

VB Code:

Dim dstHits As New DataSet()
        Dim intHits As Integer
 
        'Read XML File into Dataset
        dstHits.ReadXml("PageHits.xml")
 
        'Get the Current Number of Hits
        intHits = Convert.ToInt32(dstHits.Tables(0).Rows(0)("HitCount"))
 
        'Increase the number of hits by one for this page hit
        intHits += 1
 
        'Set the Dataset value to the new number of hits
        dstHits.Tables(0).Rows(0)("HitCount") = intHits
 
        'Write the Dataset back into the XML File
        dstHits.WriteXml("PageHits.xml")
 
        'Set the Label that is somewhere on the page with the number of hits
        Label1.Text = "You are Visitor Number: " & intHits

your XML File would look like this:

VB Code:

<?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?>
<HitCounter>
  <PageHits>
    <HitCount>123</HitCount>
  </PageHits>
</HitCounter>

That is a very basic example of a hit counter... you should be able to go from there :)